Topaz
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Posts posted by Topaz
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Whoops, sorry I meant SS v3.1I'm currently on version 3.2 -
Hi Mikami!
...in past times (like 15 or more years ago) some companies like the big "N" did not put all the wires you needed in the box with your electronic stuff and you were forced to pay more money to get the right wires from that company.I've heard of similar practices in HK shops in previous times, but I think that happens less and less (and I thought it was just HK shops that did that...)
Are you using the newest version of Sonic stage and do you think it is faster? The sonic stage that came with my unit is slower than one I download in Japan on the MORA site. I would have thought Hi-MD would have come with a better version of the sonic stage soft than one could get for free.I have been upgrading to the latest SonicStage version each time it was released. I'm currently on version 3.2. I assume that they will have ironed out any reported bugs and errors from previous versions so I guess you should keep up with the upgrades. I had some reliability issues with the bundled software (some tracks not uploading and erroring) but so far with the newer v3.2 I haven't had a problem. I can't really tell whether its faster or not, sorry.
(sorry moderators, slightly off current topic but I want to respond to Mikami
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Thanks for the response so far!
I can confirm that. My Japanese NH1 was supplied with both lengths.I am very envious of you, Ishiyoshi - your short cable is even shorter and lighter than my modified version, and it still has a filter on.
You might look into Zip-Linq retractable cables.BobS, that's a good suggestion - retractable means you have the best of both worlds, long and short. However, for the NH1, the unit has a proprietary USB port on the unit and is not compatible with the Zip-Linq as shown by Ishiyoshi.
[attachmentid=309]
Second generation units (e.g. MZ-RH10, etc.) will be able to benefit from this tip.
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I want to share with you how I got on with reducing the length of my NH1’s USB cable to a more manageable length. I was initially bothered by the unnecessary length and relative rigidity of the supplied cable and after consulting the forum (here) (thanks to ROMBUSTERS for the tip), I purchased another USB cable from Sony to work on. Equipped with newly bought soldering iron, some snazzy shrink sleeving (2mm and 5mm diameter), and a spare surgical mask left over from the SARS crisis, I undertook the operation.
<Scalpel...> After cutting the cable, my first incision into the cable wall revealed a lattice of screening mesh underneath. Exploring deeper exposed four thin wires (black, white, red and green). With so much extra cable available, I figured I’d do a practice run, and I’m glad I did – I learned a lot. One initial problem was that these four internal wires are very small and two of the colours didn’t strip easily. It took a while to get it right. <Clamp...> Also I would advise that you take care in “combing out” the cable’s screening mesh; try to keep both ends oriented in the same way for easier recombination later on. <Suction...> The next problem encountered was since I made the cuts and joins at the same length along the wire on my practice run, the 2mm sleeving made the whole thing a little bulky (even when shrunk down). It was tough getting the outer 5mm sleeving over (and it also looked like a black worm had just eaten a small marble). <More suction, please...> The solution was to stagger the cuts/joins at different places along the cable so as not make it too bulky in one place (two at one end and two at another worked fine). In the end I double sleeved it, slipping one 5mm section over, shrinking it down then slipping another 5mm over and shrinking that too. It was a fidgety job but the operation was a success and the new shorter cable works fine.
[attachmentid=300] [attachmentid=301] [attachmentid=299] [attachmentid=302] [attachmentid=303]
I can’t really understand why, in Japan, the long and short USB cable come as standard with the NH1 (Japanese NH1 owners please confirm this, thanks), but overseas only stock and supply the long version. Anyway, it also goes well with my MCMD-R1 too, and is far more portable, as you can see.
[attachmentid=304] [attachmentid=305]
I would be grateful for any comments, technical or otherwise – my only remaining concern is that screening mesh does not cover (and therefore protect) the joining area on the cable. I don’t know whether this will have a significant effect or not.
FYI, cost of the operation: USB spare cable: US$29.50; shrink sleeving US$1.
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Dear Mikami,
Thanks very much for the photos. I really wish I had a Yodobashi Camera near where I live (at least I can only look at their webpage).
I wonder if you can clarify some matters about your HMD1:
1. You have not shown the unit in an opened state. Am I correct in saying that the unit opens like a regular Sony MD? Do you have any comments on its loading and unloading?
2. I can't see what is written on the dark button on the top of the HMD1, near the ACCESS light. Can you tell us what it says and and what it is for. Thanks!
3. Is the top surface a similar metalic surface to the NH1?
Anyway, thanks for the trouble to share these pictures. Its a big help!
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Hi faelnor,
Yes, I've had the same problem with some of my Japanese CDs - I transfer the music fine but on my English langage SonicStage and Windows the characters fail to be successfully transfered.
However, I installed SonicStage on a traditional Chinese character version of Windows and I DO get the Japanese characters transfered OK. I'm not sure whether its the Chinese language version of SS or the operating system (supporting most common Asian fonts), but you'll probably have a better chance with both! I'm sure its something to do with the fonts (on the OS and SS) and whether they can be supported or not.
Good luck!
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Take a look at this thread for some more alternatives and options. My view is that you probably need several cases for the one unit, each used based on the circumstances (recording, listening, travelling light, travelling prepared, etc.)
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Get both!
Another couple of less central differences that I can remember...
- NH1 has a Digital Pitch Control, R10 seems not to have,
- Colour choice for the NH1 is limited to 2 (silver and gold) while if you are in Japan you have 4 colours for the R10 to choose from - three of which seem really cool - choice, choices...
- The NH1 is likely to resist more scratching due to the case being mostly metal, the R10 has more of a plastic surface (this is just a guess brought up in a discussion),
- (another guess from recording experience on the NH1) is that helped by the larger screen on the main unit for the R10, it may not be essential to have the remote connected if you are recording - the NH1 on the other hand really requires the remote at all times, especially during recording,
Good luck in Japan - let us know what your eventual decision is and what tipped you one way or another.
BTW, check out www.yodobashi.com and start doing your homework (Hi-MD is under the AV section). Make sure you also check out the stuff that you cannot buy where you are - loads of cool MD discs, cooooool storage cases and x4 MD cases for travelling, handy 5 discs-in-1 boxes, etc. etc.
Have a great time!
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This is fine, I have no qualms with it. I don't know how many HK'ers read this forum, though.there should be one at least
he told me I can buy MD disc with lower price in a "extremely crowded place" in hk
Yes, that's me I believe you are refering to (hi tony, hi kurisu).
There's not many of us HK-based forum users here, I guess, but a few nonetheless
And yes, tony, the shop in Mong Kok I normally use (on Fa Yuen Gaai) only has Sony Niege 74s, not 80s.
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I'm not sure whether this has been posted, still here's the link just in case...
http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Product/Paudi/...view/index.html
I've used Bablefish to translate it (better suggestions for mechanical translations are welcomed). Interesting to see the early renderings and mock-ups on the second page.
Enjoy!
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I have a NH1 and it's taken me a while to find out the most suitable case for this unit. But luckily I chanced upon a selection of nice Sumdex products and found that the Slim Vertical Camera Pouch (NBC-121) works great.
For my NH1 its quite loose inside the pouch, but for extra safety I use a small single layer neoprene MD case, and then slip this case inside the Sumdex pouch. What's great is that there's still room at the top to fold in the remote and my MDR-EX71s and zip the whole thing up - a nice little package! I feel happy that my precious NH1 has a double layer protection and can take a few knocks, but the downside is its a little cumbersome to change discs. Its certainly a tight fit but if you can find the right single layer internal case then it works! Take a look...
[attachmentid=66] [attachmentid=67] [attachmentid=68]
As for the NH900, I know that the unit is a little thicker so I would strongly suggest you test it before you buy. It may be just right without any internal case - give it a try
Link for external Sumdex pouch
http://www.sumdex.com/core/NBC-121.asp
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Hello everyone,
I just placed an order for the Sony Hi-MD recorder, but reading these posts am not sure it is for me.
I do a lot of lecturing, and am looking for the following: making high quality recordings of my lectures, archiving/storing my lectures in a preservable manner, and editing/producing/publishing of my lectures (probably into audio CD and MP3 format).
Is this the best device for my needs? The only concern I have is the limitation of one upload per track. That would make it seem that the Hi-MD is simply a transfer device and not for storage or other functions.
Dear Doc,
I think Hi-MD is right up your street - I'm a linguist at a university and I use it very often for lecture and seminar recordings as well as recording material for language teaching and uploading my own-recorded MP3 files on our WebCT service.
I agree that the one-time upload is not brilliant, but once you convert your recording to WAV format after the upload, you can go whichever way you wish - Audio CD, WAV CD, MP3, etc. and as many times as you like. And, of course, you still have the original after the upload...
MD is very small and convenient - just dump a machine in a small case with a mic sticking out and you should pick up everything fine. If you are already using a mic in your lecture then you'll be OK, but student/seminar attendee questions may cause a little problem.
The other big advantage is the time for each disc - I would say Hi-SP is fine for your needs and that's 2hours 20 minutes per 80 minute disc. You may want to see if Hi-LP is OK and then you are up in the 10 hours per 80 minute disc. Then, of course, you have the added option to using 1GB discs - and your recording capability may outrun the charge of a normal battery (a small problem in itself - but then I guess you can use mains).
From what I can tell from your needs, with a Hi-MD unit and a decent microphone, you can very easily make your quality recording you need. I'm very happy with mine!
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how was the price difference?
here in hk is :
$80(or around) for 10 80min
$40 for 5
Hi-MD--->$50
(all in hk dollar)
Tony, perhaps your paying too much for your discs...
I'm in HK too and I pay approx HK$60/US$7.70 for my 10s, HK$30/US$3.85 for 5s (mostly TDK Fine but many other similar quality discs too). I usually buy in Mong Kok.
The lowest I can find 1GB discs is HK$48/US$6.15, I guess since they are still very new. Let me know if you want the address...
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topaz: what OS is your setup? what brand PC are you using or is it a custom built system?
Hi lkawamot,
I'm using just plain ole Windows XP that was pre-installed on my Sony TR1 laptop I purchased last year. I still don't think I was doing anything particualrly wrong in my transfer but if you or anyone else have any suggestions, I think we'd all be grateful.
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Hi there all,
Yes, I have had two problems relating to this discussion. I have to thank my lucky stars that it was not so major as yours lkawamot, but still worrying all the same...
PROBLEM 1: Using my single transfer right for dialogue recording I had made (on SS2.3), I found that several short tracks (5-10 second long) did not transfer and came up on an error report after the rest of the 100 or so tracks were transfered. They were not silence but regular dialogue. And, yes, I also found that these non-transferrable tracks were also not playable back on my NH1.
PROBLEM 2: Now with several tracks down, I started to convert to WAV files using the Wave converter. But about 1 in 10-20 tracks would stop at 99% conversion of that particular track and would freeze the rest of the block conversion. This was less of a problem since it seems that no sound was lost. It just added to the inconvenience of hunting down the blocking tracking and then converting the rest.
I'm not sure whether I had anything to do with these errors - I certainly would like to know so that I can guard against greater losses.
I guess I also looking for answers and preventative measures so that I don't loose that BIG recording.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions...
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Dear kurisu and ROMBUSTERS (and all),
The mystery (be it a small one) seems to be solved about the short USB cable for the MZ-NH1. I was casually browsing around some of the Japanese websites and I found a 3-page review of the NH1 at a site called "ASCCI 24 Review" at...
http://review.ascii24.com/db/news/hard/200...651045-000.html
...and on the 3rd page I chanced upon a picture [attachmentid=21] showing both a long and short cable, with the mechanically translated line..."The private cable of 2 types where length differs is done bundled."
So, I presume the Japanese version (or the earlier versions in Japan) come bundled with both long a short cables, depending on your use. How sensible! So why didn't the overseas version come with the short cable?
(PS: kurisu, do you want to point out this review in a more prominent part of the website? (Mind you, it's a bit old and has very little opinion...)
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Dear kurisu and ROMBUSTERS,
Thank you both for your practical help and suggestions. So far I'm very pleased with the card reader that my friend bought in Japan (they are not stocking it in HK, would you believe). I have a habit of regularly going over to www.yodobashi.com to see what's new and cool in the AV section.
Thanks again!
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Hi All,
My first problem: I have searched "Hi" and low over the net for the English version of the MCMD-R1 card reader's instruction manual but I cannot locate any PDF version (as is normal). I have tried US, Europe and Japan. There is a FAQ for the unit over at Sony US but not the full instructions (see link below). Can anyone help?
http://www.sonydigital-link.com/DNA/faq/fa...p?l=en&m=MCMDR1
Secondly, does anyone think there's a chance of getting a short stubby dedicated USB cable for the card reader (as shown in many of the publicity photographs - see attached) from Sony? I don't really need such a long cable for the card reader.
Thanks for your help!!
[attachmentid=12]
[attachmentid=13]
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Excellent discussion so far, everybody (and well moderated too). I'm ALSO a linguist needing to record lectures, conversation, interviews and other forms of human speech. I have my newly-purchased MZ-NH1, which I pre-ordered from my local Sony Shop here in Hong Kong, and while there are some annoying built-in restrictions to its possible operation (which I am none too happy about), it still serves my purposes very well.
I agree that different sub-forums should be set up with the "Hi-MD applications" as the theme - linguistic and language-related applications would be great, with further subdivisions of studio work and fieldwork, etc. I also think language learning, transcription techniques, and plenty of other possible topics could really benefit from the input of the forum users here.
Thanks for the lively and informative discussion. :grin:
PS: Still no sign here of spare LIP-4WM batteries and 1GB discs - I was patient enough for the NH1, I guess I'll just have to wait a little longer. :wink:
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Hi there,
I have a simple question: can (and should) I use my MD-HC1 Head Cleaner and MD-LC1 Lens Cleaner (both from TDK) on my nice new MZ-NH1?
Thanks for your expert help! :cool:
New Hi-MD [clear Blue] Disc Available Soon!
in Minidisc
Posted
I'm able to report that the clear blue discs are also now available in Hong Kong for the same price as in Singapore (US$6.00/disc). Its the same white outer plastic cover as in Singapore too. I'm not sure when they were first available in the shops in Mong Kok (since I've been away for a few weeks) but I'm glad they've arrived. I prefer the new clear blue disc over the original 1Gb discs anyday!